SWALLOW THE SUN “SONGS FROM THE NORTH I, II & III” review (by Natalia)

SWALLOW THE SUN “SONGS FROM THE NORTH I, II & III”
Century Media records

This year Finnish death/doom metalers Swallow The Sun made huge, titanic work, which resulted in three parts album Songs From The North, where minimalist design contrasts with multi-faceted content.

“With You Come The Whole Of World’s Tears” opens the first part of an album. Whispering and soft intro changed by roaring musical part full of despair. Strings bust enchants as much as clean and extreme vocals interchange discover a whole range of feelings.
“10 Silver Bullets” is dark and makes you want to give in to the will of his dark side. Under this sounds the light is going out, and nothing else constrains and limits
Next song “Rooms And Shadows” isn’t less powerful. Musicians created some kind of romantic mood with the keyboards. Great extreme vocals, enthralling clean vocals and powerful guitar riffs.
With the “Silhouettes” it is not hard to imagine some characters from northern legends. There are emotions from battles and pain, majesty and power.
“The Memory Оf Light” maintain and evolve the spirit of previous songs. A tender female vocal supports sensual main male vocals.
“Lost Аnd Сatatonic” is a melancholic song that whispers with a cold voice of arctic winds. Extreme vocals, blast-bits, and charming lyrics – everything is adorable.
It seems like lyrical and emotional “From Нappiness Тo Dust” goes from the hearts of creators. It can be felt easily and also to imbue with the song. Sounds of organ and strings in the end make it especially melancholic.
First part lasts almost an hour (59m 19s).

Piano intro “The Womb Of Winter” opens the second part of an album. Strings and howls of wolfs are helping to create an ambience of cold polar night.
Beautiful “Тhe Нeart Оf А Сold White Land” in regards to the previous song is Aura Polaris. It accommodates all the mood of album.
Next song “Away” takes the thoughts far from here, immersing to some kind of fairytale and slowly turns to the “Рray For Тhe Winds Тo Come”, which case the storm of emotions while listening.
“Songs From The North” is tender and warming with female vocals of foreground.
Story “6650N2840E” told without any word immersing in thinking, and “Autumn Fire” is tensing and relaxing at the same time, no matter how impossible it may seem.
The ending song “Before The Summer Dies” brings some sadness, as it always came with the end of summer.
Second part, equaled to the first, is much lighter. There are no heavy riffs here. The power of compositions is reached another way.

Third part (the last one) is very contrasting with the previous. The first song “The Gathering Оf Black Moths” is infernally dark. Bell rings underline the ambience. Enjoying of growling, powerful basses and drums lasts almost 13 minutes.
“Abandoned By The Light” showing the rude beauty of extreme vocals. Especially it sounds good at symphonic parts.
The album ending with “Clouds Prepare for Battle”, which is culmination of previous creations. Again powerful riffs, blast-bits, extreme vocals and seems like Gregorian choirs.

Resuming: the album is cold and epic like the northern legends. Maybe for someone it wouldn’t be catchy from the first time. But if you’ll feel all its beauty and power, you will definitely fall in love with Songs From The North.
https://www.facebook.com/swallowthesun/

(c) Natalia (Ukrainian version here – http://dailymetal.com.ua/)